The Gift of Friends

by Emma Hannigan

  ‘Yeah, sure. Just email it to me and I’ll sit with it when I have time.’

  ‘Okay. And on the food, do you think we should have people go up to serve themselves buffet-style, or have the meals brought to the tables?’

  ‘Definitely served up,’ Freddie said. ‘I want it to feel like a big party restaurant, you know. No wandering around with paper plates. I want proper Delft and cutlery and guests sitting back and enjoying it all.’

  ‘Ooh, I love it when you’re all decisive,’ Maia said, grinning sexily at him. ‘I think I’ve got it all under control then. So just get back to me on your list within twenty-four hours, okay?’

  He saluted her. ‘Yes, ma’am.’

  ‘Now the other thing I wanted to mention is a bit, em, delicate.’ Freddie’s eyes kept darting to his phone, but Maia willed herself not to snap at him. ‘Something has happened to Nancy.’ That got his attention good and proper. He thought the absolute world of Nancy, especially as she was the one who had kept Maia together when the babies were small. Without Nancy, they would have all sunk into a depression.

  ‘What’s happened?’ Freddie asked, focusing on her fully for the first time.

  ‘The council have issued a compulsory purchase order for her cottage,’ Maia said. ‘They said she has to be out within six weeks. They’re giving her money to buy a new place, but you know what it’s like in Dublin now with the house prices. She’ll have a hard time getting anywhere like it. Plus, she loves it here, of course, and wants to see out her days in that house. But they have the lawyers on their side and her solicitor is saying he can’t see a way around it.’

  ‘Jesus Christ,’ Freddie said, his eyes bulging. ‘They can’t put an elderly woman out of her own home. That’s crazy.’

  ‘I know,’ Maia said. ‘It’s to widen the bloody road. But we’re going to fight them tooth and nail.’

  ‘Too right,’ Freddie said. ‘Would she like to talk to our solicitor? Barry is a right terrier, and if he gets his teeth into the council, they’ll know all about it.’

  ‘I was thinking,’ Maia said, looking at him steadily, ‘that there might be other friends of yours who could go talk to the council.’

  Freddie looked confused. ‘Who?’

  ‘You know, the kind of friends who know how to make a baseball bat count, how to get people to change their minds.’

  ‘I don’t know people like that,’ Freddie said quickly. ‘What are you talking about, Maia?’

  ‘Don’t you?’ she said. ‘All these years I’ve kept my mouth shut, Freddie, and asked no questions, but all the secrecy, all the money, I reckon you probably do know the right people to go put the fear of God in the relevant council people.’

  Freddie looked at her like she was mad. ‘Jesus, Maia, we’re not living in The Sopranos here. I’m not Tony bleedin’ Soprano by any stretch of the imagination. I make good money from a legit business. I certainly don’t go around with baseball bats. Have you gone mental?’

  ‘Look,’ said Maia, ‘you don’t have to tell me a thing. But if it’s possible, just know that I’d be quiet about that too.’

  He shook his head. ‘You’ve the wrong end of the stick, love. I’m just an ordinary businessman, working to make a good living. You need to stop watching so much Netflix.’

  ‘I just want to help Nancy,’ Maia said. ‘Seeing her so upset and scared is killing me.’

  ‘I understand completely,’ Freddie said gently. ‘I hate the idea of her not being down the road from us. I’ll get on to Barry today and get his advice. And I’ll call into Nancy to see how she is and look at the documents myself. We’ll figure out something.’

  ‘Me and the girls are organising a campaign,’ Maia said. ‘We made a plan at supper club the other night. I’ve been on to the local radio station and TV Ireland, drumming up interest in the story. I think I’ve got the Vayhill Recorder interested, I’m negotiating them sending down a journo and photographer to cover the story. And I’ve got Zach and Zara doing stuff on social media. Danielle is looking into the legals and the others are pulling in any contacts they think can help.’

  Freddie looked at her admiringly. ‘That’s my girl. Loyal to the end. I’m proud of you for thinking of all that. It’s the right way to go about it. Get the public involved and weighing in with opinions, and the council will soon realise they can’t just quietly take an old woman’s house. You’re bang-on, there, Maia. Fantastic work.’

  Just then, his phone started to buzz and he nearly levitated off the seat with fright. He glanced at the screen and said, ‘Eh, sorry, love, I have to take this.’

  Maia sat back. ‘So you leap to the ceiling when your phone rings, but they’re all just ordinary, normal colleagues at the other end, yeah?’

  His face tightened into a frown. ‘Yeah, that’s right,’ he said, and there was a warning tone in his voice. ‘You saying all that other stuff could land me in a right heap of trouble. Everything I do is legit. End of. So you just stick to running the house, and I’ll run the business, just like we’ve always done, alright?’ He pressed a button to take the call and walked from the room, talking quietly.

  Maia looked after him, disgusted that he couldn’t just be honest with her. She was his wife, she’d never sell him out. She had always played her part perfectly – look gorgeous, run a perfect home, ask no questions. Surely she’d earned the right to be a little more involved, a little more trusted? She was getting sick of all this cloak-and-dagger stuff. He was going to lose her if he kept it up. But then, the thought of being without Freddie made her heart hurt in her chest. He was the best, and she loved him, no matter what.

  She decided she’d go over to Pearl, see if she could have a coffee with her and get her talking about herself. She was sure there was trouble there, and she didn’t want Pearl to feel alone. She was just gathering her phone and keys into her bag when the doorbell rang.

  On the doorstep stood Danielle and Rachel.

  ‘Hello, you two,’ Maia said, surprised to see them. ‘Do you want to come in for a coffee?’

  ‘We were just wondering . . .’ Danielle began, looking nervous, ‘. . . like, if this isn’t a bad time, but we’ll come back again if it is, you can just tell us a better time . . .’

  ‘Eh, is there much more of this, Danielle?’ Maia said. ‘Because it’ll be time to start my Christmas shopping soon at this rate.’

  Danielle and her mother started laughing.

  ‘What she’s trying to say,’ Rachel said, ‘is may we come in and take up your offer of lending us clothes so we don’t put ourselves to shame at this swanky party we have to go to.’

  ‘Yes!’ Maia said delightedly. ‘You absolutely can. Try-ons and fashion shows are my favourite pastime. In you come.’

  She flung the door wide and Rachel shook her head and smiled.

  ‘Of course time wasted trying on stuff makes you happy. I should have known.’

  ‘Ah now, Rachel, don’t get all sour on me and spoil the fun,’ Maia said, wagging her finger. ‘I might get my revenge by putting you in a tutu. You’re in my control now, don’t forget.’

  ‘Lord, help us,’ Rachel said, rolling her eyes. ‘The things we do for our children.’

  As they made their way upstairs, Zara came out of her bedroom.

  ‘Oh hi,’ she said, smiling at Danielle. ‘Are you our new neighbour?’

  Danielle nodded. ‘Yes, nice to meet you, Zara.’

  ‘Danielle’s boyfriend is Justin Johnston,’ Maia said, giving Zara a meaningful look. ‘His snobby mother has invited these two to a big bash at her place, so they’re trying on stuff to look the part. I get to be Fairy Godmother!’

  ‘Really?’ Zara said, eyes sparkling just like her mother’s. ‘Can I help?’

  ‘I see you’ve ruined another life,’ Rachel said drily.

  Zara looked a bit put out, but Maia laughed. ‘You’ll have to get used to Rachel,’ she said. ‘She thinks we’re dreadful for loving fashion and spending a small fortune on clothes
. Very disapproving.’

  ‘Oh right,’ Zara said, grinning. ‘We’ll have to see if we can change her mind.’

  ‘That’s the spirit!’ Maia said. ‘Right, in here everyone.’ She pushed open a door that led to her private dressing-room. It was a large room, with a big window at the far end, and rails of clothes along both sides. In the centre was a long, rectangular wooden cabinet that had shoe racks on all sides – all of them full. On high shelves were hat boxes and handbags. Behind the door, the wall was studded with small hooks, on which hung every type of necklace. There was a tall, narrow chest of drawers under the window, and its drawers pulled out to reveal rings and bracelets and Maia’s most expensive items of jewellery, including a collection of watches. There were soft rose-coloured fairy lights garlanded near the ceiling and a tall floor lamp in one corner with a rose-coloured tasselled shade. It was like walking into an incredibly tasteful boutique.

  ‘Well, dear God, I’ve seen it all now,’ Rachel said, staring around in wonder.

  ‘My dressing-room,’ Maia said, ‘and I’m not going to apologise for it.’

  ‘Where’s your husband’s stuff?’ Rachel asked.

  ‘He has his own dressing-room across the hall.’

  ‘Grand Designs has nothing on you,’ Rachel said. ‘This is unbelievable. Are you getting one of these?’ she asked Danielle.

  ‘Well, now I’ve seen this,’ Danielle said, ‘I might have to. It’s fabulous, Maia. I’d actually sit and read in here.’

  ‘Well, you’d certainly never find me doing that,’ Maia said, ‘but I’m glad you like it.’

  ‘I’m going to get a few things from my room that might suit you,’ Zara said, sizing Danielle up. ‘If you’re with a Johnston, you’ll need to be sort of classy sexy, you know?’

  ‘No, I don’t know,’ Danielle said. ‘I’m completely useless at all this. So I’ll just trust you and Maia.’

  For the next hour, Maia and Zara pulled out dresses and held them against Danielle and Rachel and laid out some for trying on and put others back. They picked out matching shoes and jewellery, argued about their choices, agreed about others. They cast expert eyes over the two women’s bodies, hair and features. They had long discussions about the right and wrong colours and kept mentioning someone called Sorcha who would ‘pull it all together’. Danielle and Rachel sat there, watching all this whirling around them.

  Finally, Maia and Zara had exactly what they wanted assembled.

  ‘Trying on time!’ Maia said, clapping her hands together. ‘Let’s sort you first, Rachel, seeing as you’re a grumpy cow about all this.’

  Rachel got up heavily. ‘You better not expect me to wear anything short or see-through or low-cut or anything of that sort,’ she said.

  ‘See,’ Maia said, looking at Zara, ‘grumpy. We’ve our work cut out for us here.’

  ‘And I’m not getting changed in front of you lot,’ Rachel grumbled.

  ‘I’ve laid it all out in my bedroom,’ Zara said. ‘You can go in there and put on what’s on the bed and come back to us.’

  Rachel walked out of the room as if heading to the scaffold for hanging. As soon as she’d shut Zara’s bedroom door, Maia burst out laughing.

  ‘She’s hating this so much, it’s making me enjoy it all the more.’

  ‘You’re so bold,’ Danielle said, shaking her head and grinning. ‘She could well run out of here and insist on wearing her tracksuit to this party. I wish we’d never been invited,’ she said, looking glum.

  ‘Are you mad?’ Zara said. ‘It’s going to be amazing. The Johnston parties are legendary. I know a girl, a friend of my friend Lottie, and she’s in all those circles and her Insta account goes absolutely wild whenever she’s at a Johnston event. Everyone is gagging for a look. You’ve got to send me photos, okay?’

  Danielle laughed. ‘Okay, I promise. I’ll have to play dutiful fiancée, though, don’t forget. Justin wants me to meet so many people.’

  ‘You’re so lucky,’ Zara said. ‘I’d give my right arm to meet a man like that. And he’s cute into the bargain. Your ring is utterly gorgeous, by the way. I noticed it the moment I saw you.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Danielle said, looking shy. ‘Justin picked it. I would have gone for something smaller, but he wanted a sapphire and diamonds, for some reason. Although,’ she said, holding up her hand and admiring it, ‘now that I’ve got used to it, I really love it.’

  ‘You’re learning,’ Maia said. ‘You’ve just got to relax and let him spoil you from time to time.’

  From the hallway outside came Rachel’s disgruntled voice. ‘I look stupid. I’m not wearing this.’

  Maia rolled her eyes. ‘Come in and let us be the judge of that.’

  Rachel walked in, wearing a navy pleated, calf-length skirt, with a silver boat-neck top. It sparkled as she moved. She had a pair of red suede ankle-boots on with it.

  ‘Oh!’ Danielle said.

  ‘What does that mean?’ Rachel said defensively. ‘I look awful, is that it?’

  ‘No,’ Danielle said, staring at her wide-eyed. ‘You look amazing, Mum. I would never, ever have picked that outfit for you, but it’s actually perfect. It suits your shape and makes you look younger. It’s so chic and yet funky as well. I absolutely love it.’

  Rachel moved over to look at herself in the mirror. Maia could tell that she was struggling with the fact that she liked it too. She stood sideways, then frontways, looking at herself from every angle.

  ‘No, it’s awful,’ she said. ‘I’ll go try the next one.’

  Danielle opened her mouth to protest, but Maia put her hand on her hand and shook her head. Once Rachel had gone back to Zara’s room, Maia whispered, ‘Just let her try them all. She does like that one, I can tell, but she’s not ready to admit it. We’ll just humour her and she’ll come back to it. You’ll see.’

  Rachel tried on a black short dress – ‘mutton as lamb’ – a red halterneck – ‘slutty’ – and a green two-piece ‘mother of the bride, no thank you!’

  Finally, she came in wearing the last outfit, a beige dress from Cos that hit her in all the wrong places.

  ‘I think this is the one,’ she said.

  ‘No it’s not,’ Maia said. ‘It does nothing for your arse.’

  Rachel turned on her, face red with anger. ‘Feck off, Maia!’

  Maia laughed gleefully. ‘You can take the girl out of Westwood . . .’ she said. ‘You better not tell them poshies at the party to feck off and ruin all my good work. Jesus, they had it easy in My Fair Lady. There wouldn’t have been a film if they’d had you to work with, I can tell you.’

  Rachel started laughing, in spite of herself. ‘Look, it’s beige, it’s anonymous, it suits me.’

  Maia shook her head. ‘That makes me really sad to hear, Rachel,’ she said. ‘You’re a woman. I know you’ve spent your life putting others first, but here’s a chance for a bit of fun, a bit of sparkle. Why shouldn’t you make the most of it?’

  Rachel’s head drooped. ‘I don’t know,’ she mumbled. ‘It’s just not me.’

  ‘Please,’ Maia said gently, ‘for yourself, put the first one back on. I know you felt good in it.’

  Rachel raised her head and looked at her. ‘Jesus, you should be a counsellor,’ she said. ‘You’ve a gift for persuasion.’ She looked down at the beige dress again. ‘Alright, give me a minute.’

  Danielle couldn’t believe it. ‘You’ve actually convinced her,’ she said when Rachel had left. ‘I didn’t think it was possible.’

  ‘There’s no competition,’ Zara said. ‘That first outfit is a no-brainer.’

  When Rachel came back in, wearing the navy and silver ensemble, she was smiling.

  ‘Alright, you win, Maia,’ she said. ‘I do love this one. And I feel like I ruin it, but if you’ll lend it, I’d love to wear it.’

  ‘Sense at last,’ Maia said. ‘You’re welcome. And I’ve already texted my makeup girl, Sorcha, and she’s going to come to Danielle’s on the evenin
g of the party to do you both up. Hair and makeup. And it’s on me, my treat.’ She held up her hands as Danielle and Rachel both started talking at once. ‘Forget it. It’s done. Now, we’ve got Danielle to sort, so let’s keep moving.’

  Danielle went off with Zara to her room. They were back in minutes.

  ‘I think I have my one already,’ Danielle said, looking shy again. ‘Zara’s a genius.’

  ‘I had a gut feeling about this one,’ Zara said proudly. ‘And I was right.’

  Danielle walked into the dressing-room and did a twirl. She was wearing an ankle-length dress in sunburst yellow. It was strapless, with a sweetheart shape and tight corseting, but then it softened at the waist into ruched folds that fell gently down around her legs. Zara had teamed it with red strappy heels and a daisy-chain statement necklace.

  ‘Wow,’ Maia said, appraising her. ‘You are a genius, Zara, that’s perfect. You look effortlessly chic, like you haven’t tried at all but hit the nail on the head anyway.’

  ‘That’s exactly what I wanted,’ Danielle said, smiling. ‘I just want to look right, so no one can make any snide remarks.’

  ‘I have a bolero jacket to go with it,’ Zara said, dashing back to her bedroom. She returned with a sweet little cream bolero with silk lining and piping.

  Danielle slipped it on, and it was like she stood taller and straighter. It never ceased to amaze Maia how some women could dismiss fashion as stupid, and yet it had the power to transform. You could be the shyest little thing, but the right dress and heels suddenly made you feel like a tiger. That was why she loved it so much.

  ‘Our work here is done,’ Maia said to Zara, holding up her hand for a high-five.

  As Zara pulled out some dress bags to hang all their clobber in, Rachel asked about her school and plans.

  ‘I’m going to study Classics and French at Queen’s in Belfast,’ Zara said, zipping the clothes in carefully and boxing up the shoes. ‘But I’ve deferred the place for a year and I’m heading off travelling with a friend. We’re hoping to see lots of Europe and then finish by hopping across to South America.’